Introduction
It is impossible to analyze Chinese cultural discourse without referring to Confucianist ideas. These views shape how Chinese people respond to morally complex issues, perceive social relationships, and form their worldviews. It is possible to compare the impact of Confucianism on Chinese culture with the influence of Christianity on Western civilization (Smith, 1991).
At the same time, Confucianism does not suppose worshiping one god and following the rituals to praise supernatural powers, which makes it utterly different from faith. It is possible to say that Confucianism is the ethical philosophy that regulates the moral ideals and values held by people in traditional Chinese culture. This statement can be supported by two premises that describe the most critical points of the discussion. Unlike religions, Confucianism does not appeal to human spirituality or faith, and it does not describe the existence of supernatural forces that determine human actions.
Confucianism: Philosophy Rather Than Religion
Religion cannot exist without appealing to the god who is omnipotent, which makes people believe that supernatural power can save them in critical situations or punish them for their sins. Confucianism does not employ concepts associated with the divine, instead emphasizing the importance of adhering to ethical rules and rituals to achieve moral perfection (Chiu, 2017). In addition, religious and ethical practices are associated with the soul’s purification to please god and to be saved in the afterlife (Smith, 1991).
Confucianism emphasizes the importance of becoming a moral person who contributes to the development of society, helps others, and improves the world in general (Chiu, 2017). This moral improvement is not directly connected to faith; it allows people to believe they can achieve everything they want if they try hard (Smith, 1991). In other words, Confucianism’s existing system of rituals is based on ethical discipline rather than on praising the divine and supernatural forces.
Confucianism emphasizes the intellectual needs of people, while religions provide people with hope that is impossible without genuine faith in their doctrines. Confucianism features a system of ethical rules that describe the decent behavior of a moral person who respects the elderly, helps the weak members of society, works diligently, and holds altruistic ideals (Rosker, 2017). Confucianism does not describe the retribution for good and bad actions, which is entirely different from the religious view (Rosker, 2017). This teaching aims to create the ideal community where all people work to make the country flourish, and these principles are focused on the individual’s present life (Rosker, 2017). In its turn, the religious perspective discusses metaphysical issues, including life after death, the soul’s immortality, or reincarnation.
Conclusion
Confucianism is an ethical teaching that educates people about the appropriate social order, the moral principles they should follow, and the ideals they need to uphold. Although religion also imposes ethical rules on people and provides guidance on appropriate behavior, it primarily focuses on human spirituality. Confucianism, in turn, focuses on intellectual discourse without referring to human faith, which is the main distinction between ethics and religion. In other words, Confucianism does not appeal to the divine and does not describe the existence of an omnipotent god who can punish or protect people. Instead, the ethical principles described in this teaching focus on how people should behave to achieve moral perfection and interact in society.
References
Chiu, Y. (2017). Democracy without autonomy: Moral and personal autonomy in democratic Confucianism. Philosophy East and West, 67(1), 47–60.
Rosker, J. S. (2017). Is Confucianism a religion? Modern Confucian theories on the ethical nature of classical discourses. Asian Philosophy, 27(4), 279-291.
Smith, H. (1991). The world’s religions: Our great wisdom traditions. Harper San Francisco.